 ROME is where many a Liverpool supporter's heart is. The Eternal City has provided the setting for two of the club's greatest nights, and another memorable one in more recent times. But it was undoubtedly the night exactly 28 years to the day of this season's European Cup final when the love affair with the Italian capital first started. Liverpool's first of their four European Cup victories will always remain the sweetest because it started the club's domination in Europe and set the standard for what followed. And for the man who got the ball rolling in Rome with the first goal in a 3-1 victory over German champions Borussia Moenchengladbach, the evening is etched in his memory. Terry McDermott, born and bred in Kirkby, was one of several Liverpool supporters out on the pitch. Having had his share of final heartache with defeats in two FA Cup finals, the first ironically against Liverpool in 1974, the triumph in Rome was particularly satisfying. And it was the sight of the fans he used to stand alongside on the Kop turning the Olympic Stadium into Anfield for the evening that was one of his abiding memories. He recalled: "It was my first European final. We had won the UEFA Cup the year earlier but I was on the bench and was not used. I think I got a medal but 1977 was the first one that I was really involved in. And it couldn't have gone any better. "The biggest thing I remember is walking out of the tunnel into the stadium and seeing a sea of red and white chequered flags. I have never seen anything like it, three-quarters of the stadium were filled with Kopites and it was just unbelievable." Bob Paisley's side had already claimed the league title - their 10th - with a goalless draw against West Ham United at Anfield earlier that month, but their treble dream was left in tatters by Manchester United's 2-1 Wembley win in the FA Cup just days before they travelled to Rome. McDermott said: "We had come off a bad defeat in the FA Cup final four days earlier against Manchester United and we were naturally down. A lot of teams would have folded, but we were determined. We had already won the league, which probably softened the blow. But we were playing Borussia Moenchengladbach, who were a very good team. They were one the best teams in Europe around that time and we had to be at our best. But the performance we put up was just that and to play as we did in the biggest games of our lives was superb." He added: "Being a Scouser and Liverpool fan it was even better. For many Liverpool supporters of a certain age, certainly all those who were there, probably 99% would say it is their fondest memory. "I remember seeing all the pictures of the fans going to the game any way they could. They were sleeping on the luggage racks on the trains. They just wanted to be there and it felt like there were 40,000 of them there. It was without a shadow of a doubt the best match of my life. | 
